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Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths: Costly But Preventable 

Motor vehicle crashes and their resulting injuries 

are preventable; state-level changes are especially 

effective for prevention. 

TAKING ACTION CAN SAVE LIVES 

In 2018, about 340 people in Iowa were killed in 

motor vehicle traffic crashes. Iowa can consider the 

following proven strategies, and the enforcement of 

related policies, to save lives and money: 

• A primary enforcement seat belt law that covers all seating positions 

• Child passenger safety laws that require proper car seat and booster 

seat use until at least age 9 

• Publicized sobriety checkpoints to assess for driver impairment 

• A graduated driver licensing (GDL) system that includes: 

◦	 A minimum age of 16 for obtaining a learner’s permit 

◦	 Restrictions against nighttime driving between 10:00 pm and 

5:00 am (or longer) 

◦	 A limit of zero or one young passenger allowed in the vehicle 

◦	 A minimum age of 18 for lifting both nighttime driving and young 

passenger restrictions 

$4 Million MEDICAL COSTS + $459 Million WORK LOSS COSTS 

$463 Million
 total cost of traffic crash deaths 

in Iowa in 2018.
 

COST OF TRAFFIC DEATHS BY TYPE OF ROAD USER
 

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Source: CDC WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System), 2018 

*Cost is based on fewer than 20 deaths and may be unstable. 

COST OF TRAFFIC DEATHS BY AGE GROUP
 

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Children: 0–14, Teens: 15–19, Young Adults: 20–34, Adults: 35–64, Older Adults: 65+
 

Source: CDC WISQARS, 2018
 

*Cost is based on fewer than 20 deaths and may be unstable.
 

Working together, we can help keep people safe on the road—every day. 

www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/statecosts 
 

 

 


	

HOW DOES YOUR STATE COMPARE? 

STATES IN YOUR REGION 

The cost figures presented in the fact sheets are based on information collected by each individual state. There may be differences between 

states’ methods of collection and categorization of these data. 

PREVENTION SAVES MONEY 

The best way to reduce motor vehicle crash costs is to The next best way to reduce costs is to prevent injuries 

prevent crashes. Some effective strategies for preventing when crashes occur. Proven ways to prevent injuries during 

crashes include: a crash include: 

• automated red-light and speed-camera enforcement • high-visibility enforcement of seat belt and child 

• comprehensive graduated driver licensing systems restraint laws 

• publicized sobriety checkpoints • primary seat belt laws for all seating positions 

• mandatory ignition interlocks for all (including • laws that require car seat or booster seat use for 

first-time) offenders convicted of children until at least age 9 

alcohol-impaired driving • distribution plus education programs for car seats 

and booster seats 

• bicycle helmet laws for children 

For more information about these and other effective programs, visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety. 

Total population in 2018 Traffic crash death costs in 2018 

Nebraska 1.9M $349M 

Iowa 3.2M $463M 

Kansas 2.9M $571M 

Missouri 6.1M $1.31B 

CDC’S COST ESTIMATE TOOLS 

CDC’s interactive calculator, MV PICCS (Motor Vehicle Prioritizing Interventions and Cost Calculator 

for States), was designed to help decision makers prioritize and select from a suite of 14 effective 

motor vehicle injury prevention interventions. At the state level, MV PICCS calculates the expected 

number and monetized value of injuries prevented and lives saved and the costs of implementation, 

while taking into account available resources. Visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/calculator. 

CDC’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) is an online, interactive 

system that provides reports of injury-related data. To find the costs of various injury deaths and 

nonfatal injuries, visit www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars. 

July 2020